Globe Town

DISTRICT
Globe Town
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Population
PostCode District	E1, E2
Borough	London Borough of Tower Hamlets
OS Grid Reference
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Longditude	{{{longitude}}}

Globe Town is an area in East London in London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Toponymy

The first recorded name was Eastfields, and at the start of the 19th century, Eastfields had become known as Globe Town, and is probably named after a public house called The Globe on the corner of Globe Road.

History

Orgins

With its origins lying in silk weaving, Globe Town can be traced to estate building to the east of Bethnal Green, that had been centuries been virtually empty, aside from the , occupied by Edmund Bonner, Bishop of London, was developed in the 1790s around Green Street (now Roman Road) and Digby Street, for the expanding population of French Huguenot and Irish silk weavers by Charles Digby, who sold the estate of Eastfields to John May Evans, William Timmins, and Martin Wilson.

Ninthteenth century

This saw the local population in the area treble by the 1830s and there are estimates that there was a high level of weavers in Globe Town who had looms working in their homes in the weaving heyday. Although the silk weaving industry declined in the next few decades, Globe Town kept on growing until the 1860s.

Globe Town was described as a slum by George William MacArthur Reynolds during the nineteenth century, who said the majority of the streets were unpaved, rugged, and broken and a complete marsh during the winter and said it inhabitants were of two kinds, being weavers, and persons who earn their livelihood by working at the docks, or thieves, prostitutes, and vagrants.

Globe Town was clearly a more working-class area, with clusters of blue just before the richer Bethnal Green, according to Charles Booth ‘poverty map’, a businessman, researcher and social reformer in the late ninteenth century.

Twentieth century

Aalong Globe Road, some buildings were redeveloped by a private company, the East End Dwellings Company (EEDC) between 1900 and 1906. Mendip House which dates from 1900, was built first.

The Cranbrook Estate opened in 1964, much before most of the other council estates in Globe Town.

The name was revived in the 1980s when Tower Hamlets was divided into small neighbourhoods for governance.

Modern era

It had boundaries and electoral representation as the ward of Globe Town and Mile End. However there were no formal boundaries separating Globe Town from Mile End. But by 2014, public authorities redrew this map, increasing the number of wards from 17 to 20.

The Roman Road Trust was been invited in 2017 to partner with London Borough of Tower Hamlets to support the high street improvement strategy over the next few years in Globe Town.

Geography

Globe Town is characterized by medium to large scale post-war housing, interspersed with smaller scale retail units within Globe Town Market. A smaller proportion of Victorian housing exists, and while Meath Gardens is a large park within the Globe Town area. Regent’s Canal also passes through the area.[1]

Community

A cross broad community exists in Globe Town, with local schools, business and community developments working together, this has led to the creation of the Globe Town Steering Committee, made up of local businesses, residents and community groups.[2] Another notable example is the Cranbrook Community Food Garden within the Cranbrook Estate, which is run by volunteers and has been chaired by Lizzy Mace since 2016.[3]

Economy

The layout of the local economy within Globe Town almost entirely locally based with it primarily consisting of independent outlets, however residents are more likely to shop outside of the area, due to an undeveloped market,[4] but however it is beginning to undergo a regeneration in conjunction with a community led Common Vision for the district.[5] With the Roman Road Trust having a digital content and marketing strategy has aided in putting Roman Road on the digital map to increase footfall and assisting with increasing awareness and footfall to the high street,[6] Globe Town Market Square, known officially as Roman Road Market Square became a shopping centre with it aimed to supersede Roman Road traditional street market as the hub for retail activity and public life. Globe Town Market Square is open everyday and is a focal point for local residents in Globe Town. During the week, having a small number of stall are present. In recent years the market has suffered from a decline in activity and fears of anti-social behavior but their are plans for more use of the square.[7][8]

Transport

Globe Town is part of the council controlled parking zone and is covered by Zone A and is covered entirely by mini zone 2 which fall into the district boundaries.[9]